[apapli]

I disagree. I'd say older people have more networks, more experience and more resources, hence will find less comparative benefit in giving away precious equity to YC (etc) than young people who need all the above.

It could be said that YC and other startup incubators have done a stellar marketing job in taking ~6% equity off organisations by turning the tables on funding and making companies "apply" to give their equity away. From YC's perspective they have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this arrangement, versus the founders who are in pretty much the opposite position.

[neurotech1]

I know of several well connected, 'Older' founders who applied, were accepted and are doing well.

There is even cases of YC alums going through again. The reason is likely quality, structured mentoring and not just marketing.

[bpicolo]

That's probably true. I was sort of envisioning bootstrapped, self-funded businesses as a different category than the YC-startup style business.

[mattmanser]

Youre confusing concepts. You can skip an incubator like YC while still intending to not bootstrap. There is also no such thing as a 'YC-style' startup, YC was set up to target startups, so can't have invented them.

YC used to only give a tiny amount of equity that any vaguely successful person could match ($16k?). It filled the gap between starting and series A.

Bootstrapping means avoiding getting a series A.

Basically, YC didn't invent startups, it invented a new, more accessible route to starting one.